The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1887-12-16
HUMTING FOR BEE TREES.
How the stores of Honey arc Found IN
the Western Wilderness.

How the stores of Honey arc Found in
the Western Wilderness.
In the great forests west of the Missis-
numbers, feeding on the luxurious vege-
tation which skirts and intersects the
prairies all along the alluvial bottoms of
the rivers, and seeming to fulfill liter
ally the Bible description Of "land flow
ing with milk and honey" Hollow trees
arc taken possession of by them, and
honey stored into them in large quanti-
ties. X nothing disturbs them they re-
main in their old quarters for long periods
at time, laying up stores Of honey for
their own use, and, as is often the case,
for the bears or the white men in the long
run. The hunters who make business
of collecting the honey are the most mer-
CHESS enemies that the little creatures
have. Unlike Bruin, who discovers q
hive Of honey by chance, or through the
aid Of his sensitive nose, the bee hun
tiers carry on their work systematically,
watching the habits of the little creatures
while gathering honey from the flowers,
and then following them as they return
to their homo through the air. After an
experience Of year or two in the bust
ness, the hunters can locate with won
derful accuracy the home Of the bees,
notwithstanding the fact that the hive is
often situated in dense forest, and in
trees where no one would ever think of
looking for honey. Like most other wild
creatures, the Lees betray their hiding
place by their own action.
The hunters before starting out in quest
Of their rich booty provide themselves
with the necessary equipments. These
consist OF axes, rifles, matches and a
small piece of honeycomb. The rifles
are carried along for their own protec-
ton, in case the hunters should be hunted
by enemies other than honey bees.
When an open glade near the edge of the
forest is reached, the piece of hoheycomb
is placed on low bush where it can be
plainly seen by the passing bees. It's
sweet aroma quickly fills the air round it,
and attracts the little honey gatherers
toward it. Like q miser, who has sud-
denly discovered treasure of gold, they
dive down into the little cells and begin
to satiatc their appetite. Then, without
suspecting the trap set for them, nor
stopping TO inquire about the strange
phenomenon Of honeycomb growing on q
bush, they dart away through the forest
to deposit their load in the hive.
This is the hunters opportunity. No
ticing the direction in which the bees fly,
they quickly start in pursuit, keeping the
little creatures in sight with difficulty.
Usually an OILS experienced bee hunter
takes the lead. and his eagle like eyes can
detect the small black specks in the air
when the others have entirely lost sight
of them. Through dense clusters of
brambles and over wet and Doggy ground
they hurry, completely absorbed in the
chase, and unmindful of all disagreeable
surroundings. They have to make bee
line through the woods, and not to stop
to consider whether there is better travel
ing in another but longer direction.
Even the most expert leaders of hunt
ing parties viii sometimes lose sight of
the game, and the bees will escape with
cut bctraying the locality of their homes.
49, Wondering about in the woods for